Lancashire County Council could pursue legal action to stop the Government’s plans to overhaul local government in the county.
The council’s cabinet has agreed to take what it describes as ‘precautionary steps’ while the Government reviews its recently paused plans for local government reorganisation (LGR).
Lancashire CC says it has not been confirmed whether the reorganisation plans in Lancashire, confirmed on 16 July 2026, have been withdrawn or not.
Council leader Stephen Atkinson said that without more clarity, the council risks losing the opportunity to challenge the plans and so has called on the Government to clarify its position.
The deadline for calling for a judicial review of the LGR plans is 16 October 2026.
‘If satisfactory confirmation is not received from the Government within the limited time available, this could include issuing a protective claim and asking the court to pause the proceedings while the review takes place,’ Cllr Atkinson said.
‘This is a precautionary step and does not mean that the council has committed to pursuing legal action. Legal proceedings would always be a last resort and would only be considered after further correspondence from the Government and appropriate legal advice.’
Watch: LGIU's Jonathan Carr-West on the Government's LGR pause
